Three roll wringer



Nov. 21, 1944. 4 L ETTEN 23631122 THREE ROLL WRINGER Filed Sept. 29, 1958 4 8 Sheets-Sheet l 5 fivezzzn a Sheets-Sheet 2 N L. ETTEN THREE ROLL WRINGER Filed Se t. 29, 1938 Nov; '21, 1944.

Nov. 21, 1944 N. L. ETTEN 2,363,122

'IHREE ROLL WRINGER Filed Sept. 29, 1938 8 SheetsSheet 3 a ifi N. L. ETTEN THREE ROLL WR'INGER Flled Sept 29 1938 Nov. 21, 1944.

Nov, 21, 1944.-

N. L. ETTEN THREE ROLL WRINGER Filed Sept. 29, 1958 IIIIIIIIH 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 iiliiiii'iilmm Nov. 21, 1944 N. L. ETTEN 2,363,122

THREE ROLL WRINGER Filed Sept. 29, 1938 a Sheefs-Sheetfi a, cfzzvezzif afx /Vz'c0/a$ 1.272%];

Nov. 21, 1944.

N. L. ETTEN THREE ROLL WRINGER Filed Sept. 29, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Nov. 21, 1944. N; 1 ETTEN 2,363,122

THREE ROLL WRINGER Filed Sept. 29, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Nov, 21, 1944 cally successful, since they have ordinarily beenf closely resemblesthe conventionaltype of two- N ED T E D Q' 2,353,122 j a y g k TEREEROLL WRINGER INicliolasIl Etten,waterloollowa J Application September 29, 1938,Serial No. 232,37? v 26 Claims. (01; err- 253) My present invention relates to clothes wringers and more particularly to wringers of such design and construction that theworkis first fed between a pair of rolls under-reduced pressure and secondarily fed between rolls cooperating under normal operatingpressure. 1

(a multiple rolllvvringer having wringing rolls and In the prior artcertainatternpts hav been i made 'toprovide a multiple roll wringer of such design thatthe rolls on the feed side of the machine operate under sufficiently reducedpressure as to eliminate any possibility of injury-to the operator in-the event that her hand should come betweentherolls; V 7 i As heretofore wringer have been subjectto numerous objections andcriticisms and havenever become practiof such complicated designthat they are both expensive to build andcumbersome in operation. It is, therefore, a principal object of this inven-- tion to :provide a wringer having wringing rolls operating under normal pressure and feed rolls operating under reduced pressure wherein the general design, appearance and mode of operation roll wringer. i c y I A further object of this invention is to provide a multiple roll wringer of symmetrical design such that all the visibleparts are identical on the feed and discharge sides or theflmachinain order that the arrangement of-parts and mode of operation 1 will be identicalwhether-the machine is being operated in forward or reverse direction.

Another object is to provide a multiple r0 wringer of such design that all adjustments necese sary to adapt the machine for rev erseoperation constructed, however, these 1 stantiallyon the plane of the line 3- 3 of Fig.1; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 4+4 of Fig. 1;

may be simultaneously accomplished'by the oper ation of a singlemanually operable reversing lever. y

Another important object of the invention is to provide a multiple rollwringer including wringing rolls and feed rolls adapted to operate under reduced pressure wherein the work ma be fed into the wringer at an angle convenient to theoperator andwherein the work will leavethe wringer at such an angle asto insure fallingin its proper position from the fsideo'f the wringeruopposite the operator.

Another important ohject or the invention an provide a multiple roll wringer wherein the rolls maintain their relative positions at all times, but

wherein the operating pressure relationshipekisting betweentherolls maybe altered to adapt the machine for forward and reverse operationl Another object of the invention is to; provide reduced pressure feed" rollsy'with a feed roll tensioning mechanismlof such design and construe relationship. i .n 1 A further object is to provide a multiple roll struction and economical in manufacture.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the presentinventionhasbeen illustrated: i

Fig. 1 is a long tudinal sectional viewers wringer constructedin accordance with the principles of this invention; y i

Fig. z isfa sideelevation To fthe wringer'inits released position, certain parts having been brokenaway to more clearlyillustratethe operating mechanisms; i

Fig. 3 is a transverse: sectional view taken sub- Fig. 5 is a transversesectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary planviewtof the' pres sureshifting mechanism, being taken. substan tially on the plane of theline e -sorrie 5;

i Fig. 8 is a detail lplan s ectionalView of the bearings and slideways at the opposite end of the wringer rolls andi's taken substantially on the plane of the line 8 ear Fig.1;

Fig. 915 a diagrammatic view of thewringer rolls inuoneof theirnormal positions; and

Fig.- 10 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig; 9,

showing an emergency position of therolls; l

i The entire wringer structurehere-illustrated is preferably mounted on and supported by a power head ll having a lower flanged portion l2 adapted to be carriedby' and to make driving. connection with any conventional vertical wring- 1 erdrive shaft, such as iscustomarily provided on modern washing machines. The entire wringe'r frame is secured tothe power head by means i of a bracket l3 secured tothe spaced flanges M of the power head H bya plurality of machinescrews l5. The bracket lit in turn supportsa vertical bearing housing or s'lideway I 6 whichmaybe secured to the bracket l3 in any I means customarily used in the art in such a man-- her that these parts combine to provide a rigid U-shaped wringer frame including vertical bearing housings at each of its ends.

The wringer rolls extend between the bearingv housings I6 and 2| and are journalled in suitable bearing heads mounted Within these housings and will hereinafter be described. 7 In the construction illustrated there are three of these rolls and the arrangement is such that the top roll 25 (which is, incidentally, the power driven roll) willoperate against both ofthe two lower rolls 26 and 21, but the two lower rolls 26 and 2! are so mounted as to maintain a slight spaced relationship with respect to each other at all times. The top roll 25 is axially stationary during. the operation of the wringer and is driven by means of a spur gear 28 carried on the power head II'which is adapted to mesh with the gear 29 secured to the extreme end of the upper roll shaft 3|.

At the innerend of the upper roll 25, the roll sition. At that time the adjusting screw 45 will I come to bear'against the top surface of the bearing 32 and move it downwardly into operating position, and the plate 46 will similarly bear against the top surface of the bearing 4| and move it downwardly into its proper operating position. This pressure release and reset mechanism is set forth and claimed more in' detail in my prior patent on Wringer, No. 2,232,378, granted February I8, I94I.

. From the above it will be seen that in the normal operation of the wringerthe upper roll 25 is journaled between stationary bearings 32 and dl and is driven from the power head I I through the medium of the gears 28 and 29. The lower rolls 26 and 21 are resiliently urged upwardly against the roll 25 to provide proper wringin action for the work passing between the rolls. The rolls 26 and 2! are journaled for rotation in bearing members 6| carried in the respective opposite ends of a traverse bearing plate 62 at the outer end of the rolls and an identical traverse bearing shaft 3| is journalled in a vertically slidable bearing block 32 housedin a bearing slideway 33 and secured therein by means of the inwardly extends ing flanges 34, which seat in the groove 35 in the bearing block 32. The bearing slideway 33 is mounted on a plate 36 by means of a plurality of machine screws 31, and the plate 36 is in turn secured within the bearing housing I6 by welding.

At the outer end of the upper roll 25 the roll shaft 3| is journaled for rotation in a vertically movable bearing member 4| mounted Within a bearing slideway 42, which may be welded or otherwise secured to the bearing housing 2|.

3 In the preferred design 'of the invention here illustrated, 'a typical Wringer roll mechanism has been included whereby the operator may man- -ually trip external control means in order to release the upper roll 25 from all. pressure relationship with the lower rolls .26 and 21 in a manner well-known in the art. It should be pointed out that with the improved design and construction of the present wringer, such a release mechanism i not ordinarily required, since it is believed to be a practical impossibility for the operator to become injured by the machine, but it has been included in the preferred design here illustrated as an additional safeguard.

In view of these factsit is believed unnecessary to describe the wringer release mechanism in complete detail, it being believed sufficient to point out that the entire top frame member 5! maybe released from the frame members I6, I8, I9 and 2|, by manually depressing the release knob 52. This will cause the latch 53 to disengage the latch pin .54., affixed to the power head II, and since the top frame member 5| normally limits the upward movement of the upper wringer roll bearings 32 and M, the act of releasing the top frame 5| will be eifectiveto completely release the upper roll 25 from any presplate 63 at the inner end of the rolls (see Figs. 4, 9 and 10). Each of thebearing plates 62, and 63 is free for vertical movement in the bearing housings 2| and I6, respectively, andeach is supported by rollers 64 and 65 at the upper end of a pair of tension shifting arms 66 and 61 stationarily secured on eitherend of a tension rocker shaft 68 by means of the cross pins 69. The rocker shaft 68 is urged bodily upwardly by a leaf spring II anchored at its mid-point to an adjusting screw I2 carried by a bracket I3 extending between the spaced longitudinal frame members I8 and I9.

The arrangement is such that each end of the leaf spring II bears upwardly against the. rocker shaft 68 and forces each of the bearing plates 62 and 63 upwardly by means of the connection established by the roller 64 and 65 and the shifting arms 66 and 61. A space between the longitudinally extending channel members I8 and I9 serves to define a housingpreventing the displace-. ment of the sprin II and a pair of slots I4 and 15are provided in the bearing housing 2| and in theplate 36, respectively, to accommodate the hub portions of the shifting levers 66 and 61 and define a vertical path of movement for the rocker shaft 68. V It will be seen from an examination of Fig. 1 that the lower rolls 26 and 21 ar maintained in proper transverse relation by means of a plurality of spacers I6, which spacers also hold the bearing plates 62 and 63 against axial movement so that said plates will at all times be engaged by the rollers 64 and 65 on the arms 66 and 61. An arcuateroller track 1! (Figs. 4 and 9) i provided on each of the bearing plates 62 and 63 in order that the rollers 64 and 65 may move from their position at one end of the track 11 indicated at 11a, to a position at the opposite end, indicated at 11b. As hereinbefore pointed out, the entire operating pressure of the wringer as exerted by the spring II acts to force the rocker shaft 68 upwardly and consequently to exert an upward force drawn fromthe grip of the rolls.

assures on "the bearing plates 52 and 5's insuch o manner l as to forcethe lower rolls 26 and 2'! into operating engagement with the iuppertroll 25. t t

:is an object or this invention, however, to provide a .eonstru'ction which operating pressure .eife'ctive rbetween-each-pair of rolls is so controlled that the workbeing fed through the wringerwill first pass between a pair 'of rolls operating lata very reduced pressure which'will be in capable [oi causin -any injury to the --operator in the event that her hands should come between l the .rolls, and will then pass between a .pair of Fig. l- 0, "the operating pressure is further :re duced as the spaced relationship between. the rolls increases. Thus, as any object comes between t the rolls and forces them into spaced apart relarollsl-exerting the normalrpressure required tor efiicientwringing. ieature ofthe device will r be readily understood by reference to Figs. .9 and 10., illustrating thevarious parts-in different posit tions of operation.

lFig. 9.:shows the normal operating position of the machine when. the rolls are rotatingain the direction indicated by the arrows. .At this-time it will be noted that the operator feeds the work into the machine at the left hand side where it passes between the rolls and 27!. After the work .has passed between the trolls '25 and 2 1 it is engaged by the .roll 26 and the wringing action is rcornpleted as the work passes. between y the wringingroll 25 -a-nd26.

, ;In, this connection it should be noted t at the rolls are so positioned as to afford a convenient angle offeedgforthe operator andthe work leaves the machine atsuch an angle that it vwill freely fall into any receptacle such as is customarily provided without danger of wrapping around any on the feed side of of the several rolls or falling the machine. It should also fbe noticed that the feeding of the workibetween the several rolls is accomplished without the use of any auxiliary flanges, plates or other guiding means whichmay serve to entangle or tear the clothes. It Will be appreciated that when th work is fed between the rollers 25. and 21, it isnot only prevented from moving downwardly between the rolls 25 and 21 by the limited space .betweenthe rolls 26 and 21,.

but isalso carried upwardly into its proper path between the rolls 25 and '26 by the rotation of the r d-1 2 6. i i At this time the pressure shift'in'g arms 66 and When the operator desires to reverse the wringtron,- it is, of course, necessary notonl to reverse thejd'i-r'ection of rotation of the rolls but to alter the existing pressure "relationship in :such a manner that thejrolls 25 and 21 operate .und'erthe full wringing pressure, while the rolls :25 and 26 now operate as feed rolls under reduced pressure.

To accomplish this the rock sha ft 68fis partially rotatedto swin g the tension spring arms 66 and 61 from the solid line position illustrated in Fig.

9 to the dotted line position in such a .imanne'r 1 that the rollers E4fal 1d 65 will be moved from the position 11a to thepo'sition 11b. The pressure relationship "existing between the rolls will now berthe exact reverse of that heretofore described,

but will operatein exactly the same manner, as the, clothes pass through the machine from right H It is quite important, of course, that thepre's surei elationships shall be changed automatically whenever the direction} or rotation of the rolls is reversed andto thisend a linkage has been,

rovided whereb the operation or the reversing handle 8'! carried on th'e power head ll will serve.

to rockftlrerocker shaft 68 as heretofore described. To accomplish this result a crankarm 82 provided on the shaft 83 of the reversing lever 81 and thisjcran'k is oper'atively connected to-an offset 'ar'mf8'5 by a connectingrod 84. This offset arm 85 extends between a stub shaft 86 V j-ou-r-naled in a bearing ,8! secured to one ,of the flanges l 'l of the power head 11, and a longitudinal coaxial pivot stud 88 mounted in a boss por- 51 are positioned at the point 11a, andthe force exerted by thespring' l I will act upwardly al'ong the center line of the tension 'shiftingarms 66 .r

and 61, asfindicat ed by the direction 'arrow I H, to force the rolls 26 and into engagement with theroll 25. When the rol-lsfiare in this position, however, the roll -21 will operate under, greatly reduced pressure, since the leverageytending to move it into engagement with the roll '25 is of negative mechanical advantage, as will be describedxnoreiully hereinafter. It is desirable,

however, that even this light pressure effective between the rolls 25-and 2 shall be furtherjre duced in the eventthat the operators hand should come betweenthe rolls. It is, of course,

, perhaps desirable that in the event the operators hand should come between the rolls that suili'cient pinching action shall 'take place to result in an r involuntary withdrawal of hand, but in the customary construction 'it has been found almost impossible to provide aten'sion suflicient to cause In the present device this problem has been satisfactorily solved since the rolls 25 and .21 are operating unde maximum pressure when they are in contact; but when separatedas illustrated tion "8 9 of the power head ll (Fig; 6). By mov j ing the reversing handle arthrough 180 or movement, as required to reverse the direction of'rotation of the rolls, the crank 82, connectingrod 84 and offset arm 85v ill move from thesolid line position illustrated in Fig. 5*to the dotted line yoke 81 "carried thereby through predetermined 1 involuntary or reflex action and yet insufficient to "grip the hand and prevent it from being 'withposition irrespective position thereshownand will be effective to rotate the stub shaft "86 and the forked shifting arcuate movement. A roller 92is mounted on a downwardly extending arm 93. carried by the shifting arm 61 and this roller 92 extends into a notched portion of the arm 9| to establish 1 i an operating connection whereby the partial rotation of the stub shaft 86 will serve to rock the rocker shaft and thus move the rollers 64 and d5= fron1 the position Ha to the position lib. It will be clear that the connection established between the arm BI and roller92 willpermit the rock shaft 68 to move downwardly against the pressure of the spring H at all timeswhen work of considerable thickness is being passedbetween the wring-er "rolls, but, that this connection will maintain the rocker-shaftBB and the arms, 66

and 61 in their proper predetermined angular;

of the vertical movement of these elements.

When the wringer is reversed in order that the i work be fed into the machine fromthe opposite side,.it is desirable that some means be provided .for directing the flow of drain water in such a manner'that all water removed from the work will drain toward the feed side of the machine. rather than toward the delivery side. present construction this desirable result has been accomplished by providing a corrugated water deflector or flipper 94 mounted below the wringer rolls and between the bearing housings I6 and 2I by means of a floating suspension comprising. four tension springs, 95 which extend inwardly from the flanges of the bearing housings I8 and 2| to, suitable studs or rivets 96 in the vertical end flanges 9! of the water deflector 94. These tension springs 95 cooperate to resiliently support the water deflecto 94 and permit pivotal In the movement of the deflector about the axis of the 1 rivets 96 (see Fig. 3). In order that the deflector 94 may be automatically moved from one of its positions to the other when the direction of rotation of the rolls is changed, a pair of upwardly extending pins 98 are positioned in suitable transverse drilled openings in the rocker shaft 68 in such a. manne that they will extend upwardly andzseat between a pair of downwardly extend- 1 ing flanges 99 on brackets IOI welded or otherwise secured to the lower surface of the water deflector 94. as to tend to raise the water deflector 94 to a suflicient height that the axis of the rivets 96 is above the normal line of the tension springs 95. This causes the tension springs 95 to exert a slight downward pressure which is sufficient to prevent any unnecessary movement of the water deflector 95, but insufllcient to interfere with the rocking motion of the rocker shaft 68. When the operator reverses the wringer by movement of the r reversing handle 8|, it will be clear that the rockingmovement imparted to the shaft 68 will cause the pins 98 to move in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, and that as these pins pass'the vertical position they will cross the center line between the shaft 68 and the rivets 96 and will shift the water deflector in a clockwise direction in such a manner as to reverse the floW of water.

' Fig. 9 is used to diagrammatically represent the operating forces efiective on the several rolls during the normal operation of the wringer. It will, of course, be understood that the force exerted by the leaf spring II will act between the upper roll 25 and the rocker shaft 68. However, when the shifting arms 56 and 61 are in the full line position, this force will be transmitted angularly upwardly against the bearing plates 62 and 53. I tude are indicated by the angular direction and the length of the arrow III, respectively. Since the roll 26 is' not free to move, being restricted in its upper movement by the roll 25 and in its lateral movement by the bearing housings I6 and 2 I, the bearing plates 62 and 63 will act as levers pivoted upon a fulcrum concentric with the roll 26 and will exert a reduced upward pressure upon the roll 21, the magnitude of which is variable in accordance with the position of the several parts.

In the normal position shown in Fig. 9, the angular force represented by the arrow III will be resolved into a vertical component represented by the arrow H2 and the horizontal component represented b the arrow H3. The horizontal force I I3 will serve only to hold the bearing plates 62 and 63 against the side walls of the bearing housings, but the vertical component H2 will tend to pivot the bearing plates 62 and 63 in a clockwise direction about the axis of the roll 25 and thus force the roll 21 upwardly into contact with theroll 25 with the force, the direction and The pins 98 are of suflicient length magnitude of which are indicated by the arrow I I4.

As heretofore pointed out, it is desirable that this force I I4 be very much reduced as compared with the force H2 acting upon the roll 26. This is accomplished in the present construction, since the efiective length of lever at which the force rolls. The operator may now feed the work from left to right through the wringer in such a manher-that the clothes will pass firstbetween the rolls and 21, where they will be subjected to a relatively light wringing action and then between the rolls 25 and 2'6 where the final wringing operation will take place under full pressure.

In the event that the operator should accidentally allow her hands to come between the rolls I 25 and 27, the force l I4 will be sufiicient to cause a definite pinching which. will result in an'in-1 voluntary withdrawal'of the hand, but which is insufficient to cause any permanent or serious injury. In this connection it should also be.

pointed out that unlike ordinary wringer constructions the operating pressure between the feed rolls 25 and 21 does not become greater as the rolls are forcedapart, but on the contrary becomes less whenever any article of considerable thickness comes between'the rolls. V,

The-principal advantage'gained by this construction is that in the event thatfithe operator The direction of force and its magnishould become caught between the rolls,'the operating pressure will be immediately reduced to zero or to such a low magnitude that there is no possibility of the gripping action of the rolls preventing immediate removal of the operators hand. This operation will be more readily understood by reference to Fig. 10, which is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 9, showing the several rolls in emergency position, In the event that a finger H5 should come between the rolls 25 and 21, it will, of course, separate the rolls 25 and 21 until they assume the positions here indicated. Whenv the roll 21 moves downwardlyever, now acts upwardly at a slightly different The arrows H8 and H9 indicate the vertical and horizontal angle, as indicated by the arrow I I1.

components of the force H1. These forces are also greater than before, but exert less upward force upon the roll 21, since the angular relationship of the several parts has been so altered that the efiective lengthv of the lever L has nowbeen reduced to the length L, while the effective length of the lever Z remains constantas indicated by I. Since the lever lengths L and 1' have now become so greatly disproportionate,it will be seen that although the original force'exerted by the spring II is greater, as indicated at the connecting rod 8.4

" proper operating one of their operating positions.

1H, theq upward'force}. effective: on; the roll 21 hasbeenreduced to a; magnitudeindicateda by the lengthof the arrow [2 I;

.The dimensions and angular:relationship existing between the. several rolls; and linkages are in.-

}2,.3o3;,r22 a a waterdeflector to reverse thedirectionof flow of v wtheidrain water. i

dicated in the drawings intheir present preferred proportions, which are. believed to be the most satisfactory for ordinary applications. It. will be understood, however, that the directions and magnitudes of .theseveral. forces herein mentioned may be. varied at will by alterations of the dimensions of the several. desirable to do so. t l

While it is believed that the; operation of? the machine will be readily understood fromthe foregoing description, it will nevertheless be here briefly reviewed. v l l Before beginning. to. feed clothesto the ma:

chine, the operator will move the. power head reversing handle. 8| in eithe r direction from the vertical position shown to engage the gearimechparts,wif it is found anisms within therpower' head II and drivethe rolls. 25,.26' and-TLeither in their forward or re- Verse direction. When thehandle 8ll'is moved,

from the crank arm 83. afiixed thereto will op erate through. the oliset. h kts and stub: shaft extending downwardly 86, to; move the:.shifting-. arm 9| intoone of its i of course, will. act upon: the} roller 92 carried by the arm93 in order to rocktherockshaft 68; as

positions; Theishifting yoke 9|,

well as the bearing support arms 66 and 6'! into 1 l The movement of therockshaft 68 will not only beeffective. t0 swingthe arms 66 andBTinto their proper positions, but will also cause the vertical 'pins 98 to shift. the. water deflector 94into aposition corresponding. with the direction of feed ,established by theudirection of rotation: of the rolls.

The clothes may. now be fed into the machine by the operator without the necessity of any furtheradjustments and it will be noticed that the rolls are so positioned as to provide a. convenient angle of feed for introducing the work into the machine and the proper angle of dischargefor the worklleaving the machine,so-that there will be no inconvenience to the operator, nor any possibility of. work winding around the rolls: or

being discharged (from the wrong side. of the wringer, or in such a manner that it. might: fall among the wetclothes.

i. In this connection it should be pointedout that the operation of theimproved wringer Idisclose is exactly thesame from the viewpoint of the. op-

erator as is the operation of any one of the; several .cnventional, wringers now in use. From a practical aspect this is a fact of some importance since it is unnecessary-to instruct an operator in the use of thex wringer or; to overcomeany hesitancy about accepting an unfamiliar. mechanism.

Asthe operator feeds the clothes into themachine The wringer will now operate in the reverse direction,; but otherwisethe operation will beexaotly as heretofore described, In this connection it, should be pointed. out that, the principlesof this invention permit, the construction of a wiingerkembodying. these advantages in a symmetrical form; that is, Withabdth the feedside and thevdischarge side of the wringeridenticalin construction. Since public demand: requires that commercial wringers. be; capableof reverse operation, it isvery important that thismay be accomplishedby merely altering the tension relationship existing between therseveral .rolls, rather than by shifting the rolls in their relative positions with respectto each other, The reason for this-will be readily appreciated when it is realized that this feature permits an identical mode of operation of the mechanism in both directions of of feed,,and. requires, no adjustmentsfor reversing the operation other than theoperation of the customary gear reverse lever... This construction also-permits the wringer frame to be of small and simple design, such that the wringer, will be readily accepted. by thepublic, and such that it may be economically manufacturem.

While I have shown and, described. one embodiment of the. invention for purposes of illustration,

as required by the patent statutes, it isnevertheless subject. to numerous modifications and variationswithout departing from the inventive spirit, and-I, therefore, do;not,.wi sh to be limited except as by the seope. of. the appended. claims;

' I claim:

1.. In a multiple roll wringierpthe combination of a. pairof; wringer rolls, movable supporting members whereby said, pair ofwringer rolls are maintained in.- predetermined spaced relationship with respectto' each other, a third roll common t both rolls of said'laforementioned pair of rolls and adapted to. simultaneously bear against each roll of the pair of rolls underan operating pressure of predetermined and adjustablemagnitude,

a spring. below the pair of rolls actingvdireetly j thereon. common. torall of the rolls. and being the f of a pair of wringer rolls, movable supporting she has full access to the feed rolls over a large portionof their c ircumference and is thus enabled to feed work into the wringer. rapidly'and positively. At the sametime. all danger ofbe coming injured by the rolls has been eliminated since the instant thefeed rolls separate the operating pressure is reduced the hand may be withdrawn without injury.

To reverse the operation of the wringer, the lever 8| will be moved to its other position which will result in shifting the existing pressurerelationships. oi the several parts, reversing thedipractically. t zero and rection of movement of the rolls. and shifting. the

members whereby saidv pair of wringer rolls are maintained in predetermined spaced relationship withrespect to each other, a: third roll common to each roll of said aforementioned pair of rolls and adapted to simultaneouslybear against each roll of the pair of rolls under an operating pressure oi. predetermined and. adjustable magnitude, a

spring belowthe pair of rolls acting directly thereon common. to. allof therollsand being the sole resilientpressure applying means between all r of rolls are urged of thelrojlls whereby said. pair into cooperating. pressure relationship with the third roll, .and. means to; unequally divide. the pressure exertedby-said, pressure spring and cause the said pair oflrollstdbear against the common roll under unequal; pressure relation- 3. In a multiple roll wringer, the combination of a pair of wringer rolls, movable supporting members whereby said pair of wringer rolls are maintained in predetermined spaced relationship with respect to each other, a third roll common toboth rolls of said aforementioned pair of-rolls and adapted to simultaneously bear against each roll of the pair of rolls under an operating pressure of predetermined and adjustable magnitude, a single means below the pair of rolls acting directly thereon-common to all of the rolls and being the sole resilient pressure applying means between all of the rolls whereby said pair of rolls are urged into cooperating pressure relationship with the third roll, and means effective to cause the said pair of rolls to bear against the common roll under unequal pressure relationships.

4. In a wringer, a pair of wringer rolls each adapted to cooperatively engage a third roll, unitary spring means common to all rolls and adapted to urge each roll of-said pair of rolls into en- "gagement with said third roll under unequal pressure conditions, means for driving said rolls in forward or reverse directions, manual control means for selectively effecting said-drive in either direction, and levers responsive to the operation clothes may be fed from either'side, a frame, two guide rolls, means to mount said guide rolls with the axes thereof spaced at; fixed distances from each other and in the same horizontal lane, a

pressure roll mounted in fixed axial position and intermediate and above said guide rolls, said pressure roll being common to both of said guide rolls and adapted to simultaneously coact with each of said guide rolls during both forward and reverse operation to establish a single path of material feed for both forward and reverse operation, and a singlespring pressure means for effecting one type of pressure on one of the guide rolls and a different pressure on the other of said guide rolls.

, 9. In a multiple roll wringer adapted for reverse-operation whereby clothes may be fed to said wringer from ,either side, a frame; three rolls comprising a pressure roll and two guide rolls adapted to simultaneously contact said pressure roll to define a path of work feed through the wringer, each of said rolls having a single of said manual control whereby either of said 7 rolls may be alternatively caused to engage said third roll under relatively light pressure relationship.

.5. In a multiple roll clothes wringer, a. frame;

' three rolls supported by said frame and comprising two guide 'rolls mounted in the same horizontal plane and a common pressure roll adapted to simultaneously contact both of said guide rolls; each of said rolls having a single operating position prior to wringing relative to said frame; a

.single means to establish a clothes wringing pressure'bite and an auxiliary light pressure intake bite between respective pairs of said rolls, cooperating mechanism to reverse the location of said bites with respect to the frame to permit feeding clothes through said wringer from either side, and a shift member to actuate said cooperating mechanism.

'6. In a multiple roll clothes wringer, a frame; three rolls supported by said frame and comprising two guide rolls mounted in the same horizontal plane and a common pressure roll adapted to simultaneously contact both of said guide rolls, each of said rolls having a single operating position prior to wringing located to define atriangle symmetrically disposed equally on each side of a vertical center plane to present identical roll structures at the intake and discharge sides of the wringer; a single means to establish a clothes wringing pressure bite and an auxiliary light pressure intake bite between respective pairs of said rolls, cooperating mechanism to reverse the location of said bites with respect to the frame to permit feeding clothes-through said wringer from either side, and a shift member to actuate said cooperating mechanism.

Y '7. In a multiple roll clothes wringer, a frame, three rolls, each supported in a single operating position prior to wringing with respect to said frame, a single means to establish a clothes wringing pressure bite and an auxiliary light operating position prior to wringing whereby the forward and reverse paths of feed will be mutually co-extensive, a single means at a lower level than the guide rolls for applying pressure to said guide rolls, and means for varying the pressure applied to the respective guide rolls according to the direction of turning movement thereof,

10. In a multiple roll clothes wringer, a frame, three rolls, each supported by said frame in a I single operating position prior to wringing and in symmetrical relationship with said frame to present identical roll structures at each side of saidframe, said rolls comprising'two rolls each adapted to contact a common roll to provide two pairs of feed rolls, a single means to establish a clothes wringing pressure biteand an auxiliary light pressure intake bite between respective pairs of said rolls, cooperatingmechanism to reverse the location of said bites with respect to said pairs of rolls to permit feeding clothes in the opposite direction through said pairs of rolls,'and a shift member to actuate said cooperating mechanism. i

11. In a multiple roll clothes wringer, a frame, two guide rolls mounted in limited spaced relationship to each other, a third roll' adapted to simultaneously contact each of said guide rolls to provide two pairs of feed rolls having a single operating position prior to wringing and disposed in symmetrical arrangement about the center plane of the wringer structure, a single means to establish a light pressure intake bite between the first pair of said rolls and a clothes wringing pressure bite between the second pair of said rolls, cooperating mechanism to reverse the location of said bites with respect to said 'rolls to establish a clothes wringing pressure bite between said first named pair of rolls and a light pressure intake bite between said second named pair of rolls to permit feeding clothes through said wringer maintained in predetermined-spaced relationship with respect to each other, a third roll common to both rolls of said aforementioned pairof rolls and adapted to simultaneously bear against each roll of the pair of rolls under an operating pressure of predetermined and adjustable magnitude, a spring common to all of the rolls and being the sole resilient pressure applying means between all of the rolls whereby said rolls arecaused to be? in cooperating pressure relationship,"means to unequally divide the pressure exerted by the pressurespring and causethe said pair ofrolls to bear against the common roll under unequal pressure relationships, and manually operable control mean effective to alter the magnitude of the operating pressures effectivebetween the. several 13. In a multiple roll wringer, the combination between one of said pair of rolls and the first roll and the minor component between the other of said pairof rolls, and the first roll to provide a of a pair of wringer rolls, movable supporting members whereby said pair of wringer'rolls are maintained in predetermined spaced relationship with respect to each other, a third roll common toeach roll of said aforementioned, pair of rolls andadapted to simultaneously bear against each roll of the pair of rolls underan operating pressure of predetermined and adjustable magnitude,

a spring common to all of, the rolls andbeing the scleresilient pressure applying means between all of the rolls wherebysaid rolls arecaused tobe in cooperating pressurerelationship, and means to unequall divide the pressure exerted, by said pressure spring and cause the said pair of rolls to bear against the common roll under unequal pres- Y sure relationships. l 1

14. In a multiple roll wringer, the combination i of a pair of wringer rolls, movable supporting members whereby said pair of wringer rolls are maintained. in predeterminedspaced relationship with respect toeach other, a thirdroll common to both rolls of said aforementioned pair of rolls and adapted. to simultaneously bear against each sure of predeterminedand adjustable magnitude,

a single, means common to! all of the rolls and being the sole resilient pressure applying means between all of the rolls whereby said rolls are caused to be in cooperating pressure relationship,

and means effective to cause the said pair of rolls,

to bear against the common roll under unequal pressure relationships. i

- 15 A wringer comprising a frame, three roll carried in said frame in position to establish a pair of roll bites, and a single pressure mechaa nism to simultaneously apply wringing pressure between two of said rolls at one roll biteand different and relatively lighter pressure between two of said rolls at the other roll bite and means to shift said pressure mechanism to reverse the rela-.

tive location of said wringing bite and said light pressure bite with respect to said rolls.

16. In a wringer, alframe, a roll carried by said frame, a pailOf rolls in said frame adapted to coact with said first rollto provide a pair of roll bites, a double journal at each end of said pair 1 roll of the pair of rolls under an operating presheavy pressure bite and a light pressurebite respectively and means to shift the' application of saidspring force to reverse the application of the major and minor components of said spring pressure. i I

18. A wrin'ger comprising a" frame, three rolls,

carriedin saidframe in position toest-ablish a pair of roll bites, a single resilientpressure mechanism constituting the only resilient, pressure mechanism of the wringerand operative at all times said wringer is conditioned for effective 1 operation to simultaneously apply wringing pressure between two of said rolls at one bite and different and relatively lighter pressure,

wringing between two of said rolls at the other roll bite and manually operable mechanism to release said resilient pressurasaid wringing and feeding rolls forming a wringing bite and a feeding bite in, substantially a horizontal plane.

1 9. .A wringer comprisinga frame, a roll rotatably carried in said frame,-a pair of rollsadjacent said first roll and a single means for alternately pressing one of said adjacent rolls against said first roll under resilient pressure to provide wringing? rolls and to simultaneously press the other adjacent roll against one of said wringing rolls to provide rolls with a diiferent and relatively lighter pressure for feeding material to saidwringing rolls, said means constituting the sole resilient pressure means in said wringer, said unequal pressures being present at all times said wringer is conditioned for effective wringing operations, saidwringing and feeding rolls: forming a wringing bite, and a feeding bite in substantially a horizontal plane. 1 r

20. A wringer comprising a frame, a'roll rotatably carried insaid frame, a pair of rolls adjacent said first roll, a single spring mechanism constituting the only spring mechanism of said wringer for applying resilient wringing pressure of one degree between one of said adjacent rollsand said first roll to provide wringing rolls and to simultaneously provide a resilient lighter pressure bite of less degree between the other adjacent roll and one of said wringing rolls to feed clothes to said wringing pressure bite, said unequal pressures being present at all times, saidwringer is conditioned for effective wringingoperations and.

of rolls tomaintain the same infixed rotative position relative to each other, a single spring mechanism and means to apply, the force ofsaid spring mechanism against said journals between the axes of said pair of rolls to apply the major component between one of saidpair of rolls and the first roll and the minor component between the other of said pair of rolls and the first roll to provide a heavy pressure bite and a light pressure bite respectively. I

17. In a wringer, a frame, a roll carried by said frame, a pair of rolls in said frame adapted to coact with said first roll to provide a pair of roll bites, a double journalat each end of said rolls to maintain the same in fixed rotative position relative to each other, a single spring mechanism and means to apply the force of said spring mechanism against said journals between the axes of said pair of rolls to apply the major component mechanism operable to release said spring mechanism to thereby release the pressure applied to said roll bites, said wringing and feeding rolls forming a wringing bite and a feeding bite in substantially a horizontal plane.

21. In a wringer, a roll tensioning mechanism whereby a pair of wringer rolls areurged into coacting relationship with a third roll. common 1 to each roll of said pair, said tensioning mechanism includinga spring, facilities at each end of saidrolls whereby the force exerted by said spring is caused to act upon said rolls, and means to provide unequal operating pressures on different rolls, including means associated with the springactuated facilities whereby either of the aforesaid pair of rolls may be caused to engage the common roll under a difierent pressure relationship, said last-mentioned means being responsive to relative lateral movement ofone of said rolls for further reducing the effective operating pressure. 22, In, a wringer, a roll tensioning mechanism whereby a pair of wringer rolls are urged into coacting,relationship with athird roll common to each roll of said pair of rolls, said tensioning mechanism including a spring, lever facilities at each end of said rolls whereby the force exerted by said spring is caused to act upon said rolls, and means providing unequal operating pressures on different rolls including means associated with the spring-actuated facilities whereby either of the aforesaid pair of rolls may be caused to engage the common roll under a different pressure relationship, said last-mentioned means being responsive to relative lateral movement of one of said rolls for further reducing the effective operating pressure.

23. In a wringer, a roll tensioning mechanism whereby a pair of wringer rolls are urged into coacting relationship with a third roll common to each roll of said pair of rolls, said tensioning mechanism including a spring, lever facilities at each end of said spring and adaptedfor movement about fulcrum points whereby the force exerted by said spring is caused to act upon said rolls, said lever facilities providing means for positioning the fulcrum points to cause unequal operating pressures on different rolls, *including means associated with the spring-actuated facilities whereby either of the aforesaid pair of rolls may be caused to engage the common roll under a different pressure relationship, said last-mentioned means being responsive to relative lateral movement of one of said rolls operating under reduced pressure, for further reducing the effective operating pressure.

2'4. In a wringer, a r011 tensioning mechanism whereby a pair of wringer rolls are urged into coacting relationship with a third roll common to each roll of said pair of rolls, said tensioning mechanism including a single spring extending longitudinally of said rolls, facilities including levers at each end of said spring and adapted for movement about fulcrum points whereby the force exerted by said spring is caused to act upon said rolls, and means for positioning the fulcrum points for said levers to provide unequal operating pressures on diiferent rolls, and including means associated with the spring-actuated facilities whereby either of the aforesaid pair of rolls may be caused to engage the common roll under a different pressure relationship, said last-mentioned means being responsive to relative lateral movement of one of said rolls operating under reduced pressure, for further reducing the effective operating pressure.

25. In a multiple roll clothes wringer, a frame; three rolls supported by said frame and compris- 7 ing two guide rolls mounted in the same horizontal plane and a common pressure roll adapted to simultaneously contact both of said guide rolls;

each of said rolls having a single operating position prior to wringing relative to said frame; a single means below the guide rolls and acting directl thereon to establish a clothes wringing pressure bite and an auxiliary light pressure intake bite between respective pairs of said rolls, cooperating mechanism to reverse the location of said bites with respect to theframe to permit feeding clothes through said wringer from either side, and a shift member to actuate said cooperating mechanism.

26. In a multiple roll clothes wringer, a frame, three rolls, each supported in a single operating position prior to wringing with respect to said frame, a single means below said rolls to establish a clothes wringing pressure bite and an auxiliary light lpressure intake bite between respective pairs of said rolls, cooperating mechanism to reverse the location of said bites with respect to the frame to permit feeding clothes through said wringer from either side, and a shift member to actuate said cooperating mechanism.

NICHOLAS L. ETI'EN. 

